Electronic vapor provision device

ABSTRACT

An electronic vapor provision device comprising a battery assembly  8  and a vaporizer  24 , wherein the battery assembly  8  comprises a power cell  10  and a computer  12 , the vaporizer  24  is releasably connectable to the battery assembly  8  and the computer  12  comprises a computer processor  16  and a memory  18 ; wherein the computer  12  is configured to detect whether the vaporizer  24  is connected to the battery assembly  8  without use of the electronic vapor provision device by a user; and to substantially remain in a sleep mode until the vaporizer  24  is connected to the battery assembly  8.

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

This application is the National Stage of International Application No.PCT/EP2013/059936, filed May 14, 2013, which in turn claims priority toand benefit of British Patent Application No. GB1208349.9, filed May 14,2012. The entire contents of the aforementioned applications are hereinexpressly incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The specification relates to electronic vapour provision devices. Moreparticularly, but not exclusively, the specification concerns electronicvapour provision devices such as electronic cigarettes.

BACKGROUND

Electronic vapour provision devices are typically cigarette-sized andfunction by allowing a user to inhale a nicotine vapour from a liquidstore by applying a suction force to a mouthpiece. Some electronicvapour provision devices have an airflow sensor that activates when auser applies the suction force and causes a heater coil to heat up andvaporise the liquid. Electronic vapour provision devices includeelectronic cigarettes.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment there is provided an electronic vapour provision devicecomprising a battery assembly and a vaporiser, where the batteryassembly comprises a power cell and a computer, the vaporiser isreleasably connectable to the battery assembly and the computercomprises a computer processor and a memory; wherein the computer isconfigured to detect whether the vaporiser is connected to the batteryassembly without use of the electronic vapour provision device by auser; and to substantially remain in a sleep mode until the vaporiser isconnected to the battery assembly.

This has the advantage that the technical interaction between thecomputer and the vapour provision device enables the computer todistinguish between a vaporiser connected state and a vaporiser nonconnected state. The device can then be configured accordingly.

The sleep mode may be a low power mode.

By remaining in a low power sleep mode the device remains active yetconsumes very little power. This has the advantage that the device canbe charged, for instance during manufacture, and remain in a sleep modeuntil purchased and used by a consumer. The device will therefore havesufficient power remaining to be used without first charging the device.This also provides an efficient use of power and minimises energywastage. The device has a further advantage that it can remain in a lowpower mode without the additional user of a switch to deactivate andactivate.

The computer can be configured to enter a connected mode when thevaporiser is connected to the battery assembly.

The electronic vapour provision device may use less power in sleep modethan in connected mode.

Advantageously, once the vaporiser has been connected, the connectedmode is a higher power state to enable a more rapid activation once thedevice is activated by a user.

The computer may be configured to wake from sleep mode after apredetermined sleep time to determine whether the vaporiser is connectedto the battery assembly. Moreover, the computer may be configured tore-enter sleep mode if a vaporiser is not connected to the batteryassembly.

The computer can be configured such that the time between enteringconsecutive sleep modes when the vaporiser is not connected is less thatthe sleep time.

The device may enter a low power sleep mode, then wake to testconnection before quickly re-entering a low power sleep mode. Thismaintains a low power usage while in a sleep mode and between sleepmodes.

The sleep time may have a value between 0.5 and 5 seconds.

The battery assembly may further comprises a capacitor; wherein thecomputer is configured to first charge the capacitor and then detectwhether a vaporiser is connected to the battery assembly by measuringwhether the capacitor is discharged. Furthermore, the computer may beconfigured to enter a sleep mode when the capacitor is not substantiallyfully discharged. Moreover, the computer may be configured to enter aconnected mode when the capacitor is substantially fully discharged. Inother words, the computer may be configured to determine that thevaporiser is not connected to the battery assembly when the capacitor isnot substantially fully discharged. Furthermore, the computer may beconfigured to determine that the vaporiser is connected to the batteryassembly when the capacitor is substantially fully discharged.

The battery assembly can further comprise first and second batteryassembly connection terminals, and the vaporiser can comprise first andsecond vaporiser connection terminals, such that the vaporiser isconnected to the battery assembly when the first battery assemblyconnection terminal is connected to the first vaporiser connectionterminal and the second battery assembly connection terminal isconnected to the second vaporiser connection terminal; wherein thecapacitor is connected in parallel with the first and second batteryassembly connection terminals.

The battery assembly may further comprise a resistor in series with thecapacitor; wherein the capacitor and resistor are in parallel with thefirst and second battery assembly connection terminals.

The computer may be configured to send out a pulse and the capacitor maybe charged for a period of time equal to the width of the pulse.

The electronic vapour provision device may further comprise atransistor; wherein the pulse is sent to the transistor and thetransistor opens the current from the power cell to the capacitor for aperiod of time equal to the width of the pulse.

In another embodiment there is provided an electronic vapour provisiondevice comprising a battery assembly and a vaporiser, wherein thebattery assembly comprises a power cell and a computer; the vaporiser isreleasably-attachable to the battery assembly; the computer comprises acomputer processor, a memory and an input-output means; and the computeris configured in use to detect whether the vaporiser is connected to thebattery assembly.

As used herein, the term vapour includes an aerosol and other fluidstreams for provision to a user by the electronic vapour provisiondevice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the disclosure, and to show how exampleembodiments may be carried into effect, reference will now be made tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an electronic vapour provisiondevice;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side perspective view of the electronic vapourprovision device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view through the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an electronic vapour provisiondevice with separated mouthpiece and body;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an electronic vapour provisiondevice with separated mouthpiece, vaporiser and battery assembly;

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view through the electronic vapour provisiondevice of FIG. 4 with connected mouthpiece and body;

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of a battery assembly having acapacitor;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a battery assembly having a capacitorand resistor;

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of a battery assembly having acapacitor, resistor and transistor; and

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram for the battery assembly of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 there is shown an electronic vapour provisiondevice also referred to herein as an electronic smoking device,comprising a mouthpiece 2 and a body 4. The electronic vapour provisiondevice is shaped like a conventional cigarette. Both the mouthpiece 2and body 4 are cylindrical and are configured to connect to each othercoaxially so as to form the conventional cigarette shape. The mouthpiece2 is connectable to the body 4 at a first end of the mouthpiece and hasan air outlet 6 at a second end. The body 2 comprises a battery assembly8, comprising a power cell 10 and a computer 12 on a circuit board 14,wherein the power cell 10 is connected to the computer 12. The computer12 comprises a computer processor 16, a memory 18 and input-outputarrangement 20. In this example the computer 12 is a microcontroller.The computer 12 is configured to control and interface with the otherelectrical components of the battery assembly 8, comprising the powercell 10, via the input-output arrangement 20.

The mouthpiece 2 comprises a liquid bottle 22 and a vaporiser 24 havinga heater coil 26. For example, the vaporiser 24 is in fluidcommunication with the liquid bottle 22. The mouthpiece 2 is connectableto the battery assembly 8 by a screw thread, wherein connection of thebattery assembly 8 and the mouthpiece 2 connects a first batteryassembly terminal 28 to a first vaporiser terminal 30 and a secondbattery assembly terminal 32 to a second vaporiser terminal 34, formingan electrically conductive contact in both cases. The vaporiserterminals 30 34 are electrically connected in parallel to the vaporiser24.

The herein described configuration of the computer 12 comprises thecomputer operating according to a computer program stored in its memory18 and accessed by its computer processor 16.

To maximise the lifetime of the charge in the power cell 10, thecomputer 12 is configured to detect whether the vaporiser 24 isconnected to the battery assembly 8, the connection state, and to entera low power sleep mode if the vaporiser 24 is not connected. Forexample, sleep mode may comprise the computer 12 consuming minimal powerand performing no processing. A period during which the computer 12 isin sleep mode is herein referred to as sleep time. Furthermore, if thecomputer 12 determines that the vaporiser 24 is connected, the computer12 is configured to enter a connected mode, which is of a higher powerthan the low power mode.

Moreover, detecting the connection state may comprise the computer 12periodically checking whether the vaporiser 24 is connected to thebattery assembly 8. If the computer 12 determines that the vaporiser 24is not attached, the computer 12 goes into sleep mode for two seconds.After the sleep time, the computer 12 wakes and immediately and quicklychecks again for a vaporiser connection. Again, if the vaporiser is notconnected the computer 12 goes into sleep mode for another two seconds.The time that the computer 12 is awake is extremely short compared tothe sleep time so the circuit remains predominantly in a low power mode,thus conserving power. During the sleep time no checks are made todetermine whether the vaporiser 24 is connected. A user may take severalseconds to assemble the device, connecting the vaporiser 24 and thebattery assembly 8, so the vaporiser 24 connection may be easilyestablished by the computer 12 before use of the device by a user.

The waking of the computer 12 may for example comprise the computer 12entering a waking mode distinct from the sleep mode and the connectionmode.

The computer 12 checking whether the vaporiser 24 is connected to thebattery assembly 8 may for example comprise the computer 12 sending anelectrical pulse to the battery assembly terminals 28, 32. For example,the computer 12 may control the power cell 10 so as to supply a pulse ofcurrent to the first battery assembly terminal 28 and may measure thecurrent reaching the second the battery assembly terminal 32, forexample using a digital multimeter of the battery assembly 8. Thedigital multimeter is referenced 44 in the circuit diagram of FIG. 10.Furthermore, if the vaporiser 24 is connected, the digital multimeterreads a current reaching the second battery assembly terminal 32 via thevaporiser 24 and provides information to the computer 12 indicatingthis.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show another example of an electronic vapour provisiondevice. This device is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, however inthis example the vaporiser 24 does not form part of the mouthpiece 2.The mouthpiece 2 contains a liquid bottle 22 and is attachable to thevaporiser 24. The vaporiser 24 has a heater coil 26 and additionally awick 36. For example the wick 36 may be a mesh wick. The mouthpiece 2and the vaporiser 24 are configured to connect to each other such thatthe wick 36 acts to communicate liquid from the liquid container 22 ontothe vaporiser 24. The interaction between the vaporiser 24 and thebattery assembly 8 to conserve power is as described above.

Further examples of how, in the devices of FIGS. 1 to 6, connection ofthe vaporiser 24 to the body 4 may be detected by the computer 12 arenow described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.

FIG. 7 shows a battery assembly 8 similar to that shown in FIG. 3 andFIG. 6, additionally comprising a capacitor 38. The capacitor 38 isarranged in a circuit such that it is in parallel to the batteryassembly terminals and to the power cell 10. To test whether thevaporiser 24 is connected to the battery assembly 8, the computer 12first controls the power cell 10 to charge the capacitor 38, then waitsa short time and checks the charge of the capacitor 38. For example, thecomputer 12 may use a digital mulitmeter of the battery assembly 8,wired in a switched parallel circuit to the capacitor 38, to check thecharge of the capacitor 38. For instance, in order to check the chargeof the capacitor 38, the computer 12 may trigger the completion of theswitched digital mulitmeter circuit and may then receive informationfrom the mulitmeter indicating a voltage across the capacitor 38resulting from the charge of the capacitor. If the vaporiser 24 isconnected, the resistance of the vaporiser 24 causes the capacitor 38 todischarge quickly so the computer 12 measures at least a substantiallyfully discharged capacitor 38. If the vaporiser 24 is not connected thecapacitor is not substantially fully discharged when checked by thecomputer 12. FIG. 8 shows an arrangement similar to that shown in FIG.7, additionally comprising a resistor 40 in series with the capacitor38. For example, the resistor 40 and the capacitor 38 may be connectedin series with each other and in parallel with the first and secondbattery assembly connection terminals 28 32.

The battery assembly 8 of the devices described herein may furthercomprise an air pressure sensor, wherein the air pressure sensor ispowered by the power cell 10 and controlled by the computer 12. Once thevaporiser is connected to the battery assembly 8, and the device entersa connected mode after the computer 12 has determined the device'sconnection state, in order to use the device the user must suck on themouthpiece 2. The electronic vapour provision device is configured suchthat the user sucking on the mouthpiece 2 causes a drop in air pressureat the air pressure sensor. The computer 12 therefore receivesinformation from the air pressure sensor indicating that a user issucking on the device. In response to this information, the computer 12controls the power cell 10 to power the vaporiser 24. For example, thecomputer may control the power cell 10 to power the vaporiser 24 via therespective first and second terminals of both the battery assembly andthe vaporiser. This causes the vaporisation of liquid communicated tothe vaporiser 24 from the liquid bottle 22. The provided vapour thenpasses to the user. Consequently, use of the device by a user comprisesthe user sucking on the device and the detection of this userinteraction by the device so as to trigger the vaporisation of theliquid contained in the device. The pressure sensor is referenced 43 inthe circuit of FIG. 10 described in more detail hereinafter.

It should be noted that the herein described configuration of thecomputer 12 to determine whether the vaporiser 24 is connected to thebattery assembly 8 does not require use of the device by the user.

FIG. 9 shows a battery assembly 8, comprising a digital multimeter 44,similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, furthercomprising a transistor 42 and the previously described air pressuresensor 43. FIG. 10 shows a circuit diagram of the battery assembly ofFIG. 9.

The transistor 42 is connected in series between the power cell 10 andthe capacitor 38.

In the example shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the previously describedcontrolling of the charging of the capacitor 38 by the computer 12involves the transistor 42. To test whether the vaporiser 24 isconnected, the computer 12 sends a square wave pulse to the transistor42. The transistor 42 supplies current to the capacitor 38 for a periodof time equal to the width of the pulse, thereby charging the capacitor38. For example the transistor 42 may be configured such that it opens acurrent from the power cell 10 to the capacitor 38 for a period of timeequal to the width of the pulse. As described above, if the vaporiser 24is connected the computer 12 measures at least a substantially fullydischarged capacitor 38.

With regard to the embodiments described herein, the followingalternatives and variations will now be described.

The electronic vapour provision devices described may be electroniccigarettes.

The sleep time may be substantially 2 seconds. However, the sleep timeis not restricted to 2 seconds and other suitable values could be used.Moreover, the time between entering sleep modes can be significantlyless than the sleep time.

The computer processor 16 can be a microprocessor. Moreover, thecomputer 12 may comprise a microcontroller. Furthermore, a computer suchas a microcontroller could utilise a watchdog timer to implement thesleep time wait in the low power mode. Using a microcontroller has spacesaving advantages since the entire computer is located on a single chipand therefore the size of the device is minimised. Fewer components toassemble also provides reduced manufacturing times are costs. Thecomputer is not restricted to being a microcontroller and could befabricated from separate processor, memory and input-output components.

The device is not restricted to being cigarette shaped.

The vaporiser 24 and the battery assembly 8 may be releasablyconnectable to each other.

The vaporisers 24 described are examples only.

Moreover, the sleep mode may be the lowest non-zero power mode of thedevice. Although an air pressure sensor 43 is described, otherconfigurations may be employed to detect when a user is attempting touse the device. For example, an airflow sensor may be used and thedevice may be configured such that sucking on the mouthpiece 2 by a usercauses a flow of air past the air flow sensor.

Although a liquid bottle 22 is described, other types of liquid storagemay be used. For example the device may comprise foam partiallysaturated in liquid for vaporisation.

Although a digital multimeter 44 is described as being used by thecomputer 12 to determine the level of charge of the capacitor, othersuitable configurations may be employed for this purpose. For example, adigital voltmeter may instead be used.

The pulse provided by the computer may be a square wave pulse.

Although examples have been shown and described it will be appreciatedby those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications mightbe made without departing from the scope of the invention.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety ofthis disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments inwhich the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for superiorelectronic vapour provision devices. The advantages and features of thedisclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and arenot exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist inunderstanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be understoodthat advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures,and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be consideredlimitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations onequivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilisedand modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/orspirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise,consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of thedisclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. Inaddition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presentlyclaimed, but which may be claimed in future. Any feature of anyembodiment can be used independently of, or in combination with, anyother feature.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An electronic vapor provision devicecomprising: a battery assembly including a power cell and a computer,the computer having a computer processor and a memory; and a vaporizerreleasably connectable to the battery assembly, wherein the computer isconfigured to: periodically determine whether or not the vaporizer isconnected to the battery assembly; enter a sleep mode if it isdetermined that the vaporizer is not connected to the battery assembly;and substantially remain in the sleep mode until it is determined thatthe vaporizer is connected to the battery assembly, whereinsubstantially remaining in the sleep mode comprises: waking from thesleep mode after a predetermined sleep time to determine whether or notthe vaporizer is connected to the battery assembly, and if it isdetermined that the vaporizer is not connected to the battery assembly,reentering the sleep mode, or if it is determined that the vaporizer isconnected to the battery assembly, entering a connected mode, whereinthe sleep mode is a lower power mode than the connected mode.
 2. Theelectronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the sleep mode isa low power mode.
 3. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 2,wherein the computer is configured such that a time between consecutivesleep modes when the vaporizer is not connected is less than the sleeptime.
 4. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 2, wherein thesleep time has a value between 0.5 and 5 seconds.
 5. The electronicvapor provision device of claim 2, wherein the battery assembly furtherincludes a capacitor, and the computer is configured to first cause thecapacitor to be charged, and then detect whether a vaporizer isconnected to the battery assembly by measuring whether the capacitor isdischarged.
 6. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 5, whereinthe computer is configured to determine that the vaporizer is notconnected to the battery assembly when the capacitor is notsubstantially fully discharged, and/or to determine that the vaporizeris connected to the battery assembly when the capacitor is substantiallyfully discharged.
 7. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 5,wherein the battery assembly further includes first and second batteryassembly connection terminals, and the vaporizer comprises first andsecond vaporizer connection terminals, the vaporizer connected to thebattery assembly when the first battery assembly connection terminal isconnected to the first vaporizer connection terminal and the secondbattery assembly connection terminal is connected to the secondvaporizer connection terminal; and wherein the capacitor is connected inparallel with the first and second battery assembly connectionterminals.
 8. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 7, whereinthe battery assembly further includes a resistor in series with thecapacitor, and the capacitor and the resistor are in parallel with thefirst and second battery assembly connection terminals.
 9. Theelectronic vapor provision device of claim 5, wherein the computer isconfigured to send out a pulse such that the capacitor is charged for aperiod of time substantially equal to the width of the pulse.
 10. Theelectronic vapor provision device of claim 9, further comprising atransistor, the electronic vapor provision device configured such thatthe pulse is sent to the transistor, thereby allowing current to flowfrom the power cell to the capacitor.
 11. An electronic smoking devicecomprising: a battery assembly including a power cell and a computer,the computer comprising a computer processor, a memory and aninput-output device; and a vaporizer releasably-attachable to thebattery assembly, wherein the computer is configured, in use, to:periodically determine whether or not the vaporizer is connected to thebattery assembly; enter a sleep mode if it is determine that thevaporizer is not connected to the battery assembly; and substantiallyremain in the sleep mode until it is determined that the vaporizer isconnected to the battery assembly, wherein substantially remaining inthe sleep mode comprises: waking up from the sleep mode after apredetermined sleep time to determine whether or not the vaporizer isconnected to the battery assembly, and if it is determined that thevaporizer is not connected to the battery assembly, reentering the sleepmode, or if it is determine that the vaporizer is connected to thebattery assembly, entering a connected mode, wherein the sleep ode is alower power mode than the connected mode.
 12. A method of controlling anelectronic vapor provision device comprising a battery assemblyincluding a power cell and a computer, the computer having a computerprocessor and a memory, and a vaporizer releasably connectable to thebattery assembly, the computer configured to carry out the methodcomprising: periodically determining whether or not the vaporizer isconnected to the battery assembly; entering a sleep mode if it isdetermined that the vaporizer is not connected to the battery assembly;and substantially remaining in the sleep mode until it is determinedthat the vaporizer is connected to the battery assembly, whereinsubstantially remaining in the sleep mode comprises: waking from thesleep mode after a predetermined sleep time to determine whether or notthe vaporizer is connected to the battery assembly, and if it isdetermined that the vaporizer is not connected to the battery assembly,reentering the sleep mode, or if it is determined that the vaporizer isconnected to the battery assembly, entering a connected mode, whereinthe sleep mode is a lower power mode than the connected mode.